Rotatable hygienic vaginal swab device

ABSTRACT

A vaginal swab device for use in cleansing the vaginal canal comprising: an elongated manually rotatable element having a series of adjacent spiral coils of absorbent strands wound thereon adjacent one extremity of said element, one end of each of said strands secured to said element whereby they may be spirally wound by rotating said element in one direction and unwound by rotating the element in the opposite direction.

United States Patent 11 1 Vail [111 3,724,463 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] ROTATABLE HYGIENIC VAGINAL SWAB DEVICE [76] Inventor: Edward O. Vail, 330 W. Chevy Chase Drive, Apt. No. 33, Glendale, Calif. 91204 22 Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 87,725

52 U.S.Cl ..l28/269 51 Int. Cl. ..A6lm 35/00 58 Field oiSearch..l28/269, 260,2; 15/211, 229 A v [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 264,123 9/1882 Baldwin ..1s 211 1,978,748 10/19 4 Greg0ry.....

2,170,222 8/1939 Strauss ..l28/269 3,542,025 11/1970 Gustafson 1 28/269 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 165,314 2/1934 Switzerland ..l28/269 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Leroy J. Leishman [57] ABSTRACT A vaginal swab device for use in cleansing the vaginal canal comprising: an elongated manually rotatable element having a series of adjacent spiral coils of absorbent strands wound thereon adjacent one extremity of said element, one end of each of said strands secured to said element whereby they may be spirally wound by rotating said element in one direction and unwound by rotating the element in the opposite direction.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR3 ma 3; 724,463

1 N VEN TOR. f/wara 0. [/4

ROTATABLE HYGIENIC VAGINAL SWAB DEVICE Re. A SUMMARY The extreme simplicity of the device sought to be patented and which is briefly described in the foregoing abstract, would seem to make an attempt at summarizing the abstract quite unnecessary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device, showing the handle at one end and-the helical strands of absorbent material at the other with some of the partially wound strands shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a section of a portion of FIG. 1 taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with a partially wound strand shown in phantom; and

FIG. 4 shows the manner of holding and rotating the device just prior to its insertion in the vaginal canal, the first coil at the left end being broken away to reveal the structure more clearly.

The vaginal swab device described and claimed herein comprises a stem 11 that may appropriately be formed of plastic or light wood such as that used for tongue depressors; a handle 12; and a series of closely packed spiral coils 13 of absorbent material that constitute the swab proper.

The ends of the strands 14 must of course be appropriately secured to the stem 11, as by stitching. FIG. 4 shows 'how the strands appear when coiled up. An initial coil 16, FIG. 1, is so stitched to the end of the stem 11 that it forms an abutment that helps to prevent the other loosely wound coils from slipping off, and this tightly secured first coil 16 makes the device easier to insert.

When the swab has been inserted ready for use, it appears as shown in FIG. 4. Inasmuch as the strands are wound counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotation of the handle in a clockwise direction will cause the outer ends of the strands to sweep over the vaginal wall. One complete revolution of the handle is all that is required for the swabbing operation. At the end of the single revolution clockwise, the swab appears as shown in FIG. 2. Before it is withdrawn, it is rotated in the opposite direction to wind the coils up again. The device then appears as shown in FIG. 4.

The inventor claims:

1. A swab device for use in cleansing the vaginal canal, comprising: an elongated manually rotatable element having a series of adjacent spiral coils of absorbent strands would thereon adjacent one extremity of said element by means free from spring-clamping instrumentalities, one end of each of said strands secured to said element whereby they may be spirally wound by rotating the element in one direction and unwound by rotating the element in the opposite direction.

2. The combination set forth in claim I in which the endmost coil is secured to the extreme end of said element to form an abutment to prevent the series of coils from sliding from said element extending radially from said element.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the strand forming said endmost coil is looped around the element to more securely fasten endmost coil thereto.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the .end of said element opposite from said series of coils hasa periphery greater than that of said element to provide a convenient handle for manipulating said swab device. w 

1. A swab device for use in cleansing the vaginal canal, comprising: an elongated manually rotatable element having a series of adjacent spiral coils of absorbent strands would thereon adjacent one extremity of said element by means free from spring-clamping instrumentalities, one end of each of said strands secured to said element whereby they may be spirally wound by rotating the element in one direction and unwound by rotating the element in the opposite direction.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the endmost coil is secured to the extreme end of said element to form an abutment to prevent the series of coils from sliding from said element extending radially from said element.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the strand forming said endmost coil is looped around the element to more securely fasten said endmost coil thereto.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the end of said element opposite from said series of coils has a periphery greater than that of said element to provide a convenient handle for manipulating said swab device. 